Two-piece plastic container with reinforcing means



United States Patent O US. Cl. 220-4 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plastic container of a two-piece construction including a container body and a cover each of which includes an end panel and a peripheral skirt. Each peripheral skirt has a terminal end portion which is defined by inner and outer peripheral wall portions between which is a circumferential `axially opening groove. An annular metallic band is received in the grooves for rigidi-tying the container thus preventing abnormal deformation or breakage thereof upon the application of a securing member to the outer peripheral wall portion or when subject to normal abuses of storage, shipment and handling. Circumferential beads above and below the securing member also prevent the inadvertent or accidental removal therefrom.

It is relatively well known to form containers of a twopiece construction -which usually includes a container body and a cover. When such containers are constructed from synthetic polymeric material, such as polyethylene or similar plastic material, it is desirable from a cost of material standpoint to maintain the wall thickness of the container as thin as possible yet suiciently thick to prevent the container from abnormally deformng or breaking during packaging, storage, shipment and/ or handling.

In keeping with the -above it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel plastic container which overcomes the disadvantages of conventional containers and includes a container body land cover, each of which is deiined by an end panel and a peripheral skirt, each of the peripheral skirts having an axially opening circumferential groove in a terminal end portion thereof, and an annular band received in one of the grooves and pro jecting axially outwardly thereof for insertion into the other of the grooves whereby upon the 'assembly of the container body and cover the terminal end portions thereof are rigidied and prevented from deformation or breakage upon the application of la securing member to the exterior thereof and when subjected to normal abuses of storage, shipment and/ or handling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel plastic container of the type heretofore described wherein the total axial length of the grooves corresponds to the axial length of the annular band whereby upon the assembly of the container body and the cover inner peripheral wall portions of the body and cover prevent a product from contacting the annular band while outer peripheral wall portions preclude the exposure of the annular band to atmosphere.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel plastic container of the type heretofore set forth wherein a securing member is provided in the form of a strip of tape disposed circumferentially about and secured to the outer peripheral wall portions, and circumferential beads are provided above and below the tape for preventing the inadvertent or accidental removal thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that Will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a novel container constructed in accordance 'with this invention, and illustrates a container body and cover secured in assembled relationship by a circumferentially disposed piece of securing tape.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective View of the container of FIGURE 1, and illustrates the container body, the cover .and an annular reinforcing band adapted for frictional interlocking engagement with circumferential axially outwardly opening grooves of the body and cover.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3 3 of FIGURE 1, and more clearly illustrates the 'assembled relationship of the cover, the container body, the reinforcing band and the securing tape.

A novel container constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in the drawing, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The container 10 is defined by a cover 11, a container body 12, an annular reinforcing member or band 13, and a securing member 14. The cover 11 and the container body 12 are both preferably constructed from synthetic co-polymeric plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene while the reinforcing band 13 is preferably constructed from relatively non-corrosive metallic material, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The securing member 14 may be, for example, pressure sensitive tape or may be capable of being heat-sealed to itself and to the cover and container body.

Both the cover 11 and the container body `:12 are of a generally similar construction and each includes respective end panels 15, 16, and peripheral skirts 17, 18` terminating at terminal edge portions 20, 21. The terminal edge portions 20, 21 are provided with axially opening circumferential grooves 22, 23, respectively, which are generally in opposed alignment in the assembled position of the container, in the manner best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. The annular band 13 is, of course, frictionally received in the grooves 22, 23 and functions to reinforce inner and outer peripheral wall portions 24, 25 and 26, 27 of the peripheral skirts. It is to be noted that the combined axial depth of the grooves 22, 23 is equal to the axial dimension of the band 13 whereby the latter is entirely covered by the peripheral wall portions 24 through 27. The wall portions 24 and 25 thereby prevent the band 13 from being exposed to atmosphere while the wall portions 26, 27 similarly prevent a product (not shown) packaged within the container from contacting the band 13.

The cover 11 and container body '12 are each provided with means 31, 32, respectively, in the form of circumferential beads disposed at either side of the securing tape 14 and projecting radially outboard thereof to house the tape 14 and prevent the same from being accidentally or inadvertently removed from its secured position. The radial depth of a groovev (unnumbered) defined between the beads 3-1, 32 is sufliciently deep to not only house the tape 14 but a starting end portion 33 thereof which in the absence of the beads 31, 32 would be exposed and susceptible to being accidentally torn away from the terminal end portion (unnumbered) of the tape 14 :and the container itself. The circumferential beads 31, 32 additionally serve to reinforce the cover 11 and container body 12 particularly at the juncture of the walls 24, 26 and 25, 27, respectively.

The construction of the container just described permits the perfect alignment of the cover 11 and the container body 12 and not only serves to guide the assembly of these components due to the arrangement of the grooves 22, 23 and the reinforcing band 13, but the dimensions thereof in no way permit the exposure of the band 13 to the product or to atmosphere. The reinforcement provided by both the band 13 and the circumferential beads 31, 32 also suiciently reinforces the container to permit the application of the tape 14 thereto in the absence of deformation which assures complete surface engagement between the tape 14 and the peripheral wall portions 24, 25 and the formation of a hermetic seal therebetween.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have vbeen shown in illustrating the invention it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

l. A container comprising 1a container body and a readily removable cover, said container body and cover each including an end panel and a peripheral skirt, said peripheral skirts each having a terminal end portion, each terminal end portion being defined by inner and outer peripheral wall portions defining therebetween a circumferential axially opening groove, an annular band received in one of said grooves and projecting axially outwardly thereof for insertion into the other of said grooves whereby upon the `assembly of said container body and cover the terminal end portions thereof are rigidiiied and prevented from abnormal deformation or breakage, and a securing member in the form of a strip of tape disposed circumferentially about and secured to said outer peripheral wall portions for releasably securing said container body and said cover.

2. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the total axial length of said grooves is at least equal to the axial length of the annular band whereby upon the assembly of said container body and cover the inner peripheral |wall portions prevent product contact with the annular band while the outer peripheral wall portions preclude the exposure of the annular band to atmosphere.

3. The container |as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing member bridges said outer peripheral wall portions, and means projecting radially outboard of said securing member for preventing the accidental or inadvertent removal thereof from the outer peripheral wail portions.

4. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing member bridges said outer peripheral wall portions, and means projecting radially outboard of said securing member from both said container body and cover for preventing the accidental or inadvertent removal thereof from the outer peripheral wall portions.

5. The container as deiined in claim 3 wherein said projecting means is a circumferential bead disposed about one of said peripheral skirts.

6. The container `as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting means is a circumferential bead -disposed about each of said peripheral skirts.

7. The container as defined in claim 6 wherein said securing member is secured to said outer peripheral Wall portions between said circumferential beads.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,357,594 12/1967 Grosh 220-80 FOREIGN PATENTS 831,627 12/ 1927 Australia.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR. 

